Salia Sahi eviction in Bhubaneswar: 517 houses to be demolished, 5 platoons of police force deployed

A massive eviction drive has begun in Bhubaneswar’s Salia Sahi, where the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) are jointly clearing encroachments for the upcoming 13-km left parallel road from Ekamra Kanana to Andharua.

Officials confirmed that 517 houses have been marked for demolition in this phase, which will continue till November 24. Earlier, a portion of the settlement had already been cleared, but the remaining stretch now needs to be freed for uninterrupted road construction.

Sources said the eviction drive will begin from the Hatiasuni area. However, the residents staged a sit-in opposing the eviction drive. 

“We will not allow eviction until we are rehabilitated properly,” said a protestor.

To ensure smooth execution, authorities have deployed five platoons of police force, along with teams from BMC, BDA, WATCO and the Electricity Department. Heavy machinery has been stationed at the site, and security has been tightened to prevent disruption.

However, the drive has sparked resistance from several residents of Salia Sahi, who allege inadequate rehabilitation support. Despite the protests, officials say the eviction is essential for the city’s road connectivity and long-term infrastructure plans. The demolition process is expected to continue under strict supervision over the next few days.

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Notably, 900 metres of Salia Sahi falls under the parallel road project. Earlier, houses located within 200 metres were cleared, and the remaining houses within 700 metres will be cleared today.